Bowling Green Maintenance: 28. Annual Material Requirements

The total quantity of materials that might be needed to maintain a bowling green can vary considerably due to a number of factors. These can include:

• The available budget. This may be the current budget or a future available budget which may be enhanced from an existing one due to more funds becoming available.

• The desired standard of the green; a higher standard of green will typically require greater material inputs, but this isn’t always the case.

• The geographic location of the green. There is a longer growing season in the south as compared with the north of the country.

• The local micro-climate will provide a variance to the general region the green is located in.

• How wet-dry, warm-cold the weather has been in any prevailing year.

• The amount of use which occurs on a green, and whether excessive use is experienced as well as the usage patterns which occur, for example, if favourite rinks on a flat green incur a lot more use and wear than rinks adjacent to the ends.

• The current condition of the green. Additional materials may be needed for improvements to get the green up to a suitable standard.

• The soil type and construction. This would also relate to the condition of the green; a well-constructed and previously well-maintained green will already have the desired foundation for continued good conditions.

The following guide (2023) is based on a good, medium-paced, club green, within a central geographic location:

• Top-dressing: Mid-range figure of 6-tonnes (£840) (40 x 25kg bags = 1-tonne, @ £3.50 bag).

• Fertiliser: 6 x 20kg bags (£150+).

• Grass Seed: 3 x 20kg bags (prices vary considerably: £450 - £600+).

• Water (for irrigation): (potable water supply and drainage (the latter proportion of a water bill can typically be reduced by 90-100%: ˜ £1.50 per m³(£750).
• Wetting Agent: 2 x 10l bottles (£500).

• Pesticide: £100+ per application.

• Petrol: £300.